NJ SAFE Act for Domestic Violence Work Leave Goes Into Effect Today

On October 1, 2013, the New Jersey Security and Financial Empowerment Act (NJ SAFE Act) goes into effect across the state. The new law provides workplace leave to eligible employees who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault as defined under New Jersey law. The NJ SAFE Act applies to workplaces employing 25 or more people and covers unpaid leave of absence for a period not to exceed 20 days in a 12-month period. Read more

Judge: Gay Couples in New Jersey Can Marry As Early As October 21

Update 10/2/2013: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will seek to delay the October 21 date set for same-sex marriage to start and wants the state Supreme Court to fast-track an appeal in the case, according to a letter sent to the justices today by acting state Attorney General John Hoffman.

Same-sex marriage could be legal New Jersey as early as October 21, according to the historic ruling handed down Friday by Judge Mary Jacobson of State Superior Court in Mercer County. Read more

Sesame Street Actor Embroiled in Dispute Over Oral Palimony Agreement

Should Montclair resident Sharon Joiner-Orman receive palimony from her partner of 39 years, Sesame Street actor Roscoe Orman — even though the support agreement was never put in writing? Here’s the scoop on a controversial new ruling from a New Jersey Superior Court judge. Read more

Bari Weinberger Recognized Among Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs

Congratulations to Bari Weinberger for being named a NJ Top 25 Leading Woman Entrepreneur & Business Owner for 2013! Each year, the Leading Women Entrepreneurs Initiative recognizes a select handful of female business owners in New Jersey who exhibit outstanding performance in four areas: market potential, innovation, community involvement and advocacy for women.  Read more

Including Personal Provisions in Child Custody & Support Agreements

Don’t want your former spouse smoking around your children when they are in his/her care? Committed to homeschooling? Raising your children on a vegetarian diet?

If you are considering mediation as a way to reach a resolution in your child custody or child support matter, whether it is part of your divorce settlement, or a separate matter brought up outside of divorce, one of the key benefits of negotiating with your spouse over child custody and child support is mediation’s ability to create a truly custom agreement.

Some of the terms parents have listed as “musts” for custody or support agreements? Here are a few of the many items parents have successfully requested: Read more

Bergen County Ex-Husband Fighting Alimony Denied Release

Update 10/28/13: Ari Schochet won a stay of his incarceration from the New Jersey Supreme Court. The stay allowed Mr. Schochet to file an appeal. That appeal, now before Judge Jonathan Harris, poses the question: Do all parents who are behind bars for arrears on support payments have the right to an ability-to-pay hearing before being locked up?


In Bergen County, Ari Schochet, a former Wall Street portfolio manager, has been ordered by New Jersey Family Court Judge Ronny Jo Siegel to spend nights and weekends locked inside a county jail unless he hands over a lump sum of $25,000 toward more than $233,000 in unpaid alimony. Read more

Allen Iverson’s Ex-Wife Seeks $1.2 Million for Child Support Trust

Have you been following the ongoing legal battle between recently retired NBA superstar Allen Iverson and his ex-wife, Tawanna? The latest development involves payment of back child support and whether or not Iverson can be made to pay all upcoming payments through 2026 in a single lump sum child support payment of $1,272,000. Read more

Controversy Brewing in the George Zimmerman Divorce?

Last week, it was announced that Shellie Zimmerman, wife of George Zimmerman, the Florida homeowner who was acquitted of murder in the Trayvon Martin trial, has filed for divorce. What’s the latest? Read more

Divorce & Adultery: Is It Cheating To Have An Emotional Affair?

It started off innocently enough. Amy (name changed), age 39 and married for 10 years, received a friend request on Facebook from Scott, her first “real” boyfriend in college. Read more

Telling The Difference Between Marital & Separate Property

When you divorce in New Jersey, it’s the state’s equitable distribution law that lays the basis for how a couple’s property is to be divided. Under New Jersey equitable distribution, property is classified as belonging to one of two categories, either it’s marital property, which is property considered owned by both you and your spouse; or it’s separate or non-marital property, which means it is something considered to belong to you or your spouse individually.

How can tell the difference between the two? Here are 10 quick and general guidelines for helping to determine whether the asset — or debt! — is marital or separate/non-marital property. Read more